2012 Art Series Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Gingin clone planted 1975 and 1977 on free-draining ancient gravel with a clay loam subsoil. Cool destemmed fruit with some skin contact. The juice was settled for three days, racked and inoculated with yeast. 100% barrel-fermented in new French oak barriques with regular lees-stirring. After 11 months in barrels, the various components were blended, fined, cold stabilised and bottled. TA 6.6 g/l, pH 3.23. From the aroma alone, this seems crazily youthful, still showing citrus and a hint of new oak. The evolution shows more on the palate in a light toasty flavour that reminds me of mature champagne. Luscious yet very fresh – lower acidity than on the 2020 but it is completely balanced. A very slight bitterness on the aftertaste, like apricot kernel, but this adds to the freshness. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Halliday
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Set for the long term. Much richer than most Australian Chardonnays today. A bit brawny. Not sure it’s a favourite with me. Not that refreshing. (JR)
TA 6.62 g/l, pH 3.23. No malo. 100% new French oak, medium toast, 11 months' barrel maturation. Inoculated with yeast. Fully destemmed fruit, some skin contact Regular lees stirring. Subtle, withheld. Little bit of struck-match reduction but all very streamlined and elegant. Remarkably youthful and undeveloped. Will it ever mature/develop? (JH)
(fermented and aged in 100% new French oak barriques ): Light, bright yellow. Musky pear skin and honeydew on the nose, with jasmine, ginger, vanilla and smoky mineral nuances adding complexity. Juicy, seamless and sharply focused, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors that flesh out and become spicier with aeration. The mineral and floral qualities come back strong on the strikingly persistent, seamless finish. There's no way I'd have guessed that this wine was aged in all new oak.
About the producer
Leeuwin Estate is one of Australia’s leading wine producers. Based close to Cape Leeuwin, in the southern reaches of Margaret River, Western Australia, this remote estate is best known for its Art Series wines.